Notre Dame Remains Strong Contender For 2028 OL Ben Coleman

Every time Ben Coleman‍ returns to Notre Dame, he's reminded of what initially attracted him to the Irish.

The 2028 Illinois offensive lineman spent Saturday reconnecting with coaches, enjoying the atmosphere and considering what could come next in his recruitment.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder was back in South Bend for Notre Dame’s blowout win over Stanford.

One of the highlights came before kickoff, when Coleman had an opportunity to meet with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman in his stadium office.

Freeman offered some advice, discussed the upcoming game and gave the Providence Catholic High School standout an indication of what to expect from the Irish offense.

“He was just telling me, giving me some pointers, some things about Coach (Tyler) Plantz, and then some game day stuff before the game happened,” Coleman said. “He said he was going to run the ball and he did.”

The New Lenox, Ill., native appreciated the opportunity to spend time with the Irish head coach.

“It's truly a blessing,” he said. “He's a great guy. He's very sharp. He's very intelligent, great coach, and I believe everything he says.”

There was also time to catch up with Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph and assistant offensive line coach Rob Delaney. Those conversations centered on where things stand in his recruitment and what the next steps could look like.

“They were just talking about what's next in this process,” Coleman said. “They're excited to see me. I haven't seen them in a while, but they were talking to me about the game and coming back for another game potentially.”

That could mean another trip to South Bend for a game this fall or an official visit down the road. Notre Dame's upcoming game against Miami is one possibility, although he hasn't settled on a return date.

Coleman has an impressive offer list that includes Notre Dame, Oregon, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa State, Missouri, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Kansas State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State and Purdue. 

Much of his interest in the Irish comes from the relationships he's developed with the coaching staff, particularly Rudolph, Freeman and Delaney.

“I love how Coach Rudolph operates,” he said. “I love Coach Delaney, Coach Freeman. I love the coaching staff there. I always feel very welcome every time I'm there.”

There are other factors working in Notre Dame's favor, including its proximity to home and the culture he's experienced during his visits.

“I like the culture,” he said. “I like how close it is to my house, my home, my family.”

The values emphasized at Notre Dame also remind him of those instilled in him at Providence Catholic.

Watching the Irish dominate Stanford only added to the experience, particularly after hearing Freeman discuss the team's offensive approach before the game.

“The atmosphere was absolutely awesome,” Coleman said. “They played their butts off. Everybody got in. I mean, it was just a really, really great game to watch.”

His fall schedule has already included a trip to Kentucky for its game against Alabama, with several more visits ahead. Wisconsin is next on Oct. 24, followed by Vanderbilt on Nov. 28. A trip to Iowa next weekend is another possibility.

As for narrowing his recruitment, there isn't a timetable yet.

“I don't know if I'll have a list yet. I got to talk to my family first.”

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